Transportation (Ports)

This bill amends existing state legislation to allow vessels to cross over State Highway Route 28 in the town of Barnstable. Specifically, it authorizes the transportation of boats at various intersections within the villages of Marston Mills and Osterville. The amendment modifies Chapter 390 of the acts of 2024, incorporating language added in 2025 to clarify these crossing permissions. This policy change directly affects maritime navigation and transportation within the specified areas of Barnstable.

This bill creates the Harbors and Inland Waters Maintenance Fund to support ongoing harbor and waterway upkeep in Massachusetts. It directs 0.05% of aviation fuel excise tax revenue (after reimbursements) into this fund, which will finance specific activities managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Key uses include continuous dredging, cleaning harbors/inland waters, removing sunken vessels and derelict piers, and maintaining state piers. The fund replaces a previously defunded account and ensures dedicated resources for navigation safety and waterway maintenance.

This bill imposes a $2.00 embarkation fee per passenger on all ferry trips (except those with <100 passengers) departing from ports in Barnstable, Nantucket, Dukes, or Bristol counties. Ferry operators must pay these fees quarterly to the state revenue commissioner, who distributes the funds: 62.5% to the city/town operating the port, 25% to fire districts serving port areas, and 12.5% to neighboring towns sharing harbors. Exemptions apply to passengers with valid commuter, student, or school-related ferry fares. The collected funds must be deposited into special accounts for local harbor operations, public safety, or infrastructure improvements directly related to ferry service impacts.

This bill establishes the "Metropolitan Transportation Network" by defining three interconnected systems: the Metropolitan highway system (specific interstate and state highway segments), the Metropolitan waterways system (water routes from Cape Ann to Plymouth Harbor), and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) assets serving the same areas. It requires the Department of Transportation to develop a tolling plan for the highway system by 2025, including dynamic pricing to reduce congestion and incentives for using MBTA transit. The network framework mandates integration of tolling, operating schedules, and pricing across highways, waterways, and MBTA services. This directly affects drivers using designated highways, MBTA operators, and the Department of Transportation, which must coordinate with federal agencies and regional stakeholders.